Worth County 4-H and USDA hosts agricultural expo

Building up new farmers

SYLVESTER, Ga. – Members of the Worth County community from 4-H all the way to USDA officials were in attendance today for the county’s annual agriculture field day and expo.

Sylvester Mayor, Harold Proctor says that when it comes to the future of agriculture in Worth County, it really is an aspect that affects the community…

And, one that can’t afford to shrink any time soon…

“You’ve got to spark that interest in them now, because, as one of the spokesmen said in ten years, fifty percent of all farmers will be retired. Someone needs to take their place cause we need our food. We don’t want to walk into the grocery store, and there’s no food on the shelf,” said Harold Proctor Jr., Mayor, City of Sylvester.

The USDA held a panel lead by Georgia Farm Agency Director, Arthur Tripp to talk about the future of agriculture in rural areas such as Worth County…as well as what it means on a much larger scale.

“You know, food security is national security, so we have to continue to find innovative ways to get our young people involved and excited, because there are two things that are certain: everybody’s got to eat and farming is inherently risky. So, we need more people to get into that pipeline and take care of our field of agriculture,” said Arthur Tripp, Farm Service Agency Georgia Director, USDA.

But it’s not just Tripp who’s excited about the future of agriculture in Worth County…

As many of the high school students in attendance are excited and intrigued as well…

“There’s tons of research being done about just the advancement of agriculture science and the best way to grow stuff, and what it can be used for,” said Daniel Jordan, Senior, Worth County High School.

“I’m excited, I can’t wait to see what different projects we’re going to do. Because our sweet potato project was just the beginning, and it’s very exciting,” said Abigail Kirkland, Junior, Worth County High School.

“For a lot of our young folks, they only know the farming aspects, or the rogue crop aspect of agriculture, but it’s also markets, it’s also innovations and technologies,” said Tripp.

With many in the field of agriculture coming out to discuss the future of the field, they’re optimistic that the next generation will make leaps and bounds when it comes to progress.

Tripp says that last year alone the USDA allocated over one billion dollars in disaster assistance funds in the State of Georgia.

Brian Roche reporting.

Copyright 2023 CBS 44 South Georgia. All rights reserved.